Hoke, a darkly comedic drama starring Paul Giamatti, has received a pilot order at FX. Based on Charles Willeford‘s series of novels Sideswipe, New Hope For The Dead and The Way We Die Now, the project was written by feature scribe Scott Frank, who will direct the pilot and he will be showrunner if Hoke goes to series. Hoke is a story of mid-life crisis and murder that features the hardboiled and possibly insane homicide detective Hoke Moseley (Giamatti) in pre-chic Miami circa 1985. Giamatti, Frank, Curtis Hanson, Carol Fenelon and Dan Carey executive produce for FX Prods. Filming is scheduled to begin later this year in Miami.“Like Elmore Leonard, Charles Willeford is one of the most deeply respected writers of crime fiction and he created a wholly original and colorful lead character in Detective Hoke Mosely,” said FX president of original programming Eric Schrier. “Scott Frank delivered a magnificent script and we are honored that Paul Giamatti will bring Hoke to life.”

Frank received an Oscar nomination for his adaptation of Out Of Sight and a Golden Globe noination for his adaptation of another Leonard novel, Get Shorty. He just adapted and directed A Walk Among The Tombstones, from the novel by Lawrence Block, starring Liam Neeson for Universal. Giamatti is reprped by Kipperman Management and UTA; Hanson, Fenelon and Carey are with UTA; Frank is with CAA.

Hoke joins two other drama pilots in production at FX, The Strain from Guillermo del Toro and Carlton Cuse; and Tyrant from Howard Gordon, Gideon Raff and Craig Wright.

9 Comments

The Strain and Tyrant both look good if that’s what your into, but holy crap! Paul Giamatti on television! As an insane detective! I want this! So bad!

George • on Aug 28, 2013 2:45 pm

Miami Blues is an underrated crime film. Also based off one of the hoke novels. With great performances from Fred Ward, Alec Baldwin, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Ward was in the hoke was in the hoke role. Giamatti is talented but not what envisioned. Anyways just happy someone has rediscovered Charlie Wilford work.

Barbara • on Aug 28, 2013 2:45 pm

I agree with you! That scene at the dinner table with Ward and Baldwin squaring off will have you ROTFL! Underrated in a huge way. Just the other day was on an online forum discussing Elmore Leonards books and one of the posters asked for recommendations for other books that had that offbeat feel, sharp dialogue, etc.. I mentioned a few and one of them was Willeford and plugged Miami Blues. (The others were Donald Westlake and a less known writer Jane Rubino).
I dont know about the casting – I will hold off. It could work. Hope they shoot it on the books location.

As long as “Tyrant” et “The Strain” obtain their season order, FX can do wathever they want with Paul Giamatti. It’s a nice bonus.

johnhelvete • on Aug 28, 2013 2:45 pm

Speaking of Tyrant, the pilot is going to start filming soon (next week?) and the show still has not cast the female lead.

Pluto • on Aug 28, 2013 2:45 pm

Giamatti is a terrific actor, but this is awful, terrible, not very
good casting.

hollyvet • on Aug 28, 2013 2:45 pm

Curtis Hanson bought these books several years ago. He was going to write, direct and produce. I love the idea of Scott Frank writing and directing. Curtis, I am glad you got around to doing this. It could be a great series.